« | Psalm 64 | » |
1 O God, hear my voice when I complain. Keep my life safe from the fear of those who hate me.
2 Hide me from the secret plans of the sinful and from the noise of those who do bad things.
3 They have made their tongues sharp like a sword. They use poison words like arrows.
4 They shoot at the man without blame from their hiding place. They are quick to shoot at him and are not afraid.
5 They talk each other into doing sinful things. They talk about setting hidden traps. They say, "Who will see them?"
6 They think of ways to do bad things, and say, "We have made a perfect plan!" For the inside thoughts and the heart of a man are deep.
7 But God will shoot at them with an arrow. They will be hurt very soon.
8 They will be made to trip and fall. Their own tongue is against them. All who see them will shake their heads.
9 Then all men will be afraid. They will tell about the work of God. And they will think about what He has done.
10 The man who is right and good will be glad in the Lord and go to Him to be safe. All those whose hearts are right will give Him praise.
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.